Liquid dispensing nozzle for roughage mills and the like



Feb. 23, 1943. 1 HQLLAND-LETZ 4 2,311,833

LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE FOR ROUGHAGE MILLS AND THE LIKE lFiled March 3, 1941 INVENT OR.

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNirso sr'rs TENT OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE FOR ROUGH- AGE MILLS AND THE LIKE John Holland-Letz, Crown Point, Ind., assignor to The Letz Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Indiana 3 Claims.

The present invention is a continuation in part of a co-pending parent application, Serial No. 277,045, led June 2, 1939, on a Liquid pressure control for roughage mill.

The present invention relates generally to the automatic control and direct supply of liquid in proportion to the amo-unt of material comminuted by a roughage mill, but is more particularly directed to a nozzle construction which plays an important function in such control and distribution of the liquid.

It is very essential in the operation of comminuting material in roughage mills, particularly where a liquid such as molasses is being simultaneously mixed with the comminuted material especially where an attempt is made to secure a determined proportion and control of the amount of liquid to that of the material comminuted, then and in that case it is essential to provide a means beyond the pump or pressure creating means so as to instantly shut oli or control the liquid such as molasses into the mill when there is no further material being comminuted by the mill. If such liquid supply means continues to supply liquid and there is no material passing through the machine or the mill at the time, the mill under such circumstances becomes clogged with the liquid such as molasses and renders it practically inoperative until such time that it can again be cleaned. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to not only overcome this difculty hereinbefore pointed out, but to also provide a novel and improved construction of liquid nozzle which Will not only eiiectively spray material such as liquid under pressure, but will instantaneously shut ofi the discharge of liquid when the pressure in the Conduit reaches a predetermined pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved nozzle construction for dispensing of liquid under pressure in connection With a roughage mill which includes adjustable means whereby the pressure Within the conduit connected to the nozzle may be controlled so that a pre-determined pressure must be reached before the liquid will be discharged from the nozzle and will be effectively shut 01T should the pressure drop below that predeter-v mined pressure.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and an arrangement of the various parts in a manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View partly in cross section illustrating the construction of a roughage mill having my improved liquid discharge nozzle construction embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a modified form of nozzle.

In illustrating my improved liquid nozzle construction, I have shown the same in connection With a roughage mill for the preparation of forage for cattle which comprises, briey, a frame construction generally indicated by the reference character I0 on which is journaled in suitable bearings a main drive shaft II. Secured to the main shaft II is a rotary cutter head generally indicated by the reference character i2. Surrounding the lower portion of the cutter head I 2 is a screen or grate I3. Positioned below the grat-e I3 is a conveyor trough I4 in which is mounted a screw conveyor I5. Communicating with the discharge end of the conveyor trough I5 is a conduit I6 which in turn has its discharge end communicating by means of an elbow Il to a fan housing I8. The material to be comminuted is conveyed towards the cutter head I2 on an endless conveyor belt I9. Positioned adjacent the delivery end of the conveyor belt I9 and on a horizontal level therewith is an idle roller 20. Positioned above the delivery end of the endless conveyor belt I9 and above the idle roller 20 is a supplemental oating feed belt 2| which is trained about rollers 22 and 23. This feed belt 2I together With its associated rollers is mounted in a pivoted frame generally indicated by the reference character 24. This frame 24 together with the inner roller 22 are adapted to float up and down so as to compress the material and insure positive feeding of the material to the cutter head. TheA floating feed belt frame 24 is suitably connected by connections generally indicated by the reference character 25 to the lever 21 of the pump 28. Connected to the inlet side of the pump is a liquid supply conduit 29. Connected to the discharge side of the pump 28 is a discharge conduit 30.

The construction and operation of the roughage mill, liquid pressure pump and floating feeding means for controlling the proportional discharge of liquid to that of the material comminuted by the mill is described in detail in the co-pending parent application hereinbefore identified and for that reason it is believed that a more detailed description is not necessary.

The pump 28 in the present instance is continuously driven with the operation of the mill and the pressure on the liquid in the conduit 30 varies in accordance with the position of the floating belt 2|. When the material on the conveyor belt is such that it raises the belt 2|, the liquid pressure in the conduit 3Q increases proportionately.

My improved liquid nozzle construction includes a flanged collar 3| which is preferably secured to the elbow |1 or other suitable housings of the roughage mill or to the feed collector by means of bolts 32. Extending through and adjustably secured in an axial bore 33 of the collar 3| is my improved nozzle 34 in the form of a tube or shaft having a longitudinal bore 35 which is closed at its inner end as shown at 36. The outer end of the nozzle is connected in any suitable manner to the conduit 30. Communicating with the inner end of the bore 35 is an upwardly extending liquid discharge port 31. Extending longitudinally of the nozzle and preferably on the upper side thereof is a keyway like slot 38. Mounted in the bottom of the slot 38 and having its inner end extending over the port 31 is a flat spring 39. Mounted on top of the spring 39 and contacting the ma jor portion thereof is a longitudinally adjustable plate 48. The inner end of the plate 40 is bent slightly upwardly at an angle as shown at 4| so as to limit the free upward movement of the spring 39 in its operation of uncovering the liquid discharge port 31 of the nozzle 34, A set screw 43 is mounted in threaded engagement with a threaded bore 42 in the collar for securing the plate 4Q, spring 39 and nozzle 34 in position on the collar 3|.

From the above description it will be readily understood that the operative parts of the nozzle in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, a certain liquid pressure within the nozzle will be required before the spring 39 is unseated from the discharge port 31 before liquid is discharged therefrom. As soon as the liquid pressure in the nozzle drops below that certain predetermined pressure, the spring instantaneously closes the port and prevents discharging or dripping from the nozzle. It will also be observed that by longitudinally adjusting the plate 40 in a direction toward or away from the discharge port 31 of the nozzle 34, a greater or less liquid pressure within the nozzle may be required to unseat the spring 39 from the discharge port 31. This adjustment in addition to requiring a varying pressure to open the port, also enlarges or constricts the opening between the spring and the port so as to further achieve accurate control of the liquid discharged into the comminuted material.

In the modified form of nozzle shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, a longitudinal member in the form of a tube or shaft 44 is provided having a longitudinally extending passageway or bore 45 terminating in a liquid discharge port 45. The inner end is preferably tapered or bevelled as shown at 46. Secured to the tapered end 46 by means of a threaded screw 41 is a flat spring 48 which has its free end as shown at 49 extending over the discharge end or port of the nozzle 44. Positioned between the head of the screw 41 and the spring 48 is a reinforcing plate 50. The function of operation of this modified form of nozzle is essentially like that of the nozzle disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.

summarizing the operation and advantages of my improved construction of liquid nozzle, it will be seen that by providing a spring controlled port at the discharge end thereof, a quick shut off is afforded so that at the moment the liquid pressure in the nozzle drops below a predetermined pressure, dripping or leaking of the -liquid into the housing of the mill is prevented when material is not being fed into the roughage mill proper.

It Will also be seen that by adjusting the plate which engages the spring, the liquid pressure required to unseat the spring may be varied. Such an adjustment has many advantages, especially in connection with the use of liquids of Varied viscosities.

In the abovespecication I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will of course be understood that the same is capable of modification and that such modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A liquid discharge nozzle comprising a longitudinally extending member, there being a longitudinally extending bore in said member terminating short of one end thereof, an angularly disposed discharge port communicating with said bore, there being a longitudinally extending slot in said member on the same side of and adjacent said port, and a flat spring mounted in said slot and extending over said port for controlling the discharge of liquid therefrom.

2. A liquid discharge nozzle comprising a longitudinally extending member, there being a longitudinally extending bore in said member terminating short of one end thereof, an angularly disposed discharge port communicating with said bore, there being a longitudinally extending slot in said member on the same side of and adjacent said port, a flat spring mounted in said slot and extending over said port, a plate mounted in said slot and engaging a major portion of said spring, and means for securing said plate and said spring to said nozzle.

3. A liquid discharge nozzle comprising a longitudinally extending member, there being a longitudinally extending bore in said member terminating short of one end thereof, an angularly disposed discharge port communicating with said bore, there being a longitudinally extending slot in said member on the same side of and adjacent said port, a at spring mounted in said slot and extending over said port, a plate mounted in said slot and engaging a major p01'- tion of said spring, and means for adjustably securing said plate to said nozzle whereby the liquid pressure required to unseat said port may be varied.

JOHN HOLLAND-LEITZ. 

